Australia Backs U.S. In South China Sea Dispute

Australia has publicly backed the U.S.'s sending a naval ship into waters China considers its property. But Australia won't be sending in any ships.

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Australia is backing up the U.S.'s play Tuesday in which it sent a warship into waters China considers its property.

Maritime law says a country's borders extend 12 nautical miles beyond its land. But the manmade islands China is claiming as its own have many countries arguing against China's self-declared ownership of the water. (Video via U.S. Navy)

By sailing through that zone, the U.S. denied China's ownership claims.

"If we don't do this — we're the only nation who has the capability and the will to do this — then the Chinese will close off the South China Sea," an expert in Asian affairs told Fox News.